Suspensory bandage.



No. 539,260. Patented Dec. [9, I899.

G. A. MATTERN.

SUSPENSORY BANDAGE.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1898.) (No Model) Wz'incsses fi 5 $4 757: #4/ ed J/Q79p,

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GEORGE ALFRED MATTERN, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

SUSPENSORY BANDAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,260, dated December 19, 1899.

Application filed February 16, 1898. Serial No. 670,474. (No model.)

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALFRED MAT- TERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspensory Bandages; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,.and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of suspensory bandages; and it consists in the novel construction and relative arrangement of the several parts which when connected form the suspensory.

The object of my invention is to provide an article of this class practically fashioned or shaped to a fit, whereby it readily adjusts itself to place and accommodates itself to the movements of the body without suffering displacement at the same time that it perfectly supports the parts and does not chafe. This object is attained principally by the peculiar and novel construction of the belt portion, which by the union of its component parts lends itself most perfectly to the difficult location of the body to which it is fitted, conforming thereto and remaining in place under all movements and permitting it to be made of comparatively narrow material, thereby avoiding the clumsy and heating constructions which are thought to be necessary in the various garments and appliances of somewhat kindred nature worn higher up in order to secure that stability which the vicinity of the waist is likely to afford.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a pattern of the side pieces of the belt. Fig. 2 is a pattern of the front piece-0f the belt. Fig. 3 is a pattern of the back piece of the belt with its V-shaped holding-straps either attached to it or, as here shown, integral with it. Fig. 4 is a pattern of the pouchpiece of the bandage. Fig. 5 is a front view of the complete bandage. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of same. L

The belt portion of the suspensoryis made sufficiently elastic in whole or in part to render it self-supportin g, and this elasticity may be gained by introducing into it one or more pieces of elastic web. As the result I seek to attain is not dependent upon the elasticity or otherwise of the parts of the belt, but upon their patterns, by which the necessary shape is given it, I do not confine myself to particular sections being elastic or non-elastic; but in order to illustrate the best construction in every particular in which I have conceived the belt should be made I hererefer to its parts as follows:

A A are the side pieces of the belt. These are best made from elastic web. They are shaped after the pattern of Fig. 1, from which it will be seen that said pieces have the shape of a rectangular oblong parallelogram. B is the front piece of the belt. It is best made of nonelastic material or fabric and is shaped after the pattern shown in Fig. 2, from which it will be seen that it has the shape of an oblong quadrilateral with oblique angles, its base being longer than its top, whereby its ends converge upwardly. O is the back piece of the belt. Itis also best made of non-elastic material or fabric, and, as shown by the pattern of Fig. 3, it has substantially the same shape as front piece B. VVithontat this point considering the depending portions of the suspensory, which may be made, as I shall hereinafter mention, of one or more pieces or may even be integral with either front or back piece, or with both, I shall point out the features of the belt portion. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, these several parts A, B, and O are united as follows: The sloping ends of piece B are secured to the square ends of side pieces A A, and similarly the sloping ends of piece 0 are secured to the square ends of said side pieces A A. These four pieces form the belt, and on account of the stitching of the upwardly-converging ends of the front and back pieces to the square ends of the side pieces the circumference of the upper edge of the belt is less than that of its lower edge, and

said belt therefore in lying flat will curve upwardly, or, to speak more correctly, it will have the shape of a frustum of a cone, the diameter of its base being greater than that of its top. As it is the intention of this bandage by reason of its shortness from top to bottom to be worn low down about the thighs, this upward curve or convergence, as it were, of the belt is of importance in counteracting the tendency due to its position on the body to slip down, and this upward curve or convergence has this effect in tending to lift the belt, or at least to prevent it by a firmer upwardly-tending hold or grip from slipping down. In this it differs, essentially, from any belt which is intended to be worn about the Waist or from one which has a true cylindrical shape, like those intended to support napkins and similar dependingportions. It also differs in this respect from a garment which by reason of its different use is worn higher up on the body, and consequentlyhas to be fashioned more with relation to the groins than to the thighs, and has therefore to converge its seams downwardly instead of upwardly.

As I have before stated, the depending portions of my suspensory may consist of one or more pieces and of any suitable material, and it may even be integral with either front or back piece B or O, or with both, in any case forminga pouch portion and a back connection. In its best form, however, it is made as I here shownaniely, of a back connection consisting of the \l-shaped piece a, forming two downwardly-converging straps, and the pouch-piece D, of gauze-cloth, shaped after the pattern of Fig. -tfrom which it will be seen that its sides curve downwardly in converging lines to a narrow base, where it is secured to the end of the back connection 0. It is best to provide the pouch-piece D with an aperture d. The top of the pouch-piece D is secured to and is preferably gathered in along the base of the front piece B, and the base of said pouch-piece is secured to the free end of the V-shaped piece 0, as stated, thus completing the bandage. The curved edges of the pouch-piece are of advantage in cansing said piece'when bent inwardly to position to draw it in in pouch shape, the bet ter to hold the parts and to avoid chafing, and this pouch shape is further secured by reason of gathering in the piece, as is indicated. The V-shaped piece 0 forms straps to hold the pouch-piece well in place, and said straps extend in directions not liable to chafe nor to impede the circulation.

The bandage readily and perfectly adjusts itself automatically to changing positions of the body and acconnnodatesitself to the movements thereof. It holds itself in place and prevents displacement of the supported parts and avoids any sagging or dropping. In thus uniting the parts no buckles, buttons, or lacings are required. The whole device is light, cool, and easily worn.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A A suspensory bandage comprising an endless belt portion formed of a front and back piece each having upwardly-converging side edges, and substantially rectangular elastic side pieces having their square side edges secured to the upwardly-converging edges of the front and back pieces whereby the side pieces extend upwardly from both the front and back pieces and over the hips of the wearer, a pouch secured to and depending from the front piece, and diverging connecting portions from the lower end of the pouch to the back belt-piece, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE ALFRED MATTERN.

Witnesses:

D. B. RICHARDS, WALTER F. VANE. 

